The use of a colored ribbon to signify support for a cause goes back several decades. Though used originally as a symbol to show support for military troops stationed overseas, ribbons have taken on many colors for a variety of causes, including pink for breast cancer awareness.

Origins of Supporter Ribbons

After her husband was taken hostage in Iran in 1979, military wife Penney Laingen spurred a "yellow ribbon" movement by tying them around trees in her front yard. Borrowing from this wartime ribbon idea, the red AIDS ribbon was created in the early 1990s to spur greater awareness of the growing epidemic. After AIDS ribbons appeared, many groups created colored ribbons to symbolize awareness of a cause.

Susan G. Komen

First accounts of pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness occurred with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The Foundation handed out pink visors to survivors running in its Race for the Cure since late 1990. In 1991, it started giving out pink ribbons to all participants in its New York City race.

Peach Before Pink

Also in the early '90s, 68-year-old Charlotte Haley started making peach-colored ribbons after her daughter, sister and grandmother were diagnosed with breast cancer. To raise awareness of how little was being spent to study the disease, she distributed the ribbons attached to cards with information on the annual budget of the National Cancer Institute.

Pink for Breast Cancer

As a breast cancer survivor, Evelyn Lauder was a driving force to further publicize National Breast Cancer Awareness Month by using ribbons. Self Magazine and Estee Lauder adopted Haley's idea, but changed the color to pink, branding cosmetics and other products with the ribbon.

Significance

The history is unclear as to how the exact shade of pink was chosen. The color has traditionally been a feminine color and deemed appropriate to represent breast cancer awareness primarily for that reason. Pink is also said to represent health and vigor.

Source:

Think Before you Pink

Information on the Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon

Pink Ribbon International

More Information:

Susan G. Komen for the Cure